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Plating and shiny things...

5K views 21 replies 20 participants last post by  Chowser 
#1 ·
Long time Glock guy here. I know they are tools...but I also like shiny things, and tools can look nice too (so yes, I'm also a 1911 guy). But mainly I would like to have one of mine Glocks slide plated. Something similar to a polished or chrome finish. I would love to have it polished, but for duribility reasons polishing is probably not the best choice. This is going to be carried and used. So here's my question...
Is there any good practical reasons not to plate? Not personal taste, but solid practical reasons. Thanks for looking.
 
#2 ·
A shiney firearm degrades the overall utility of a firearm that's to be used as a weapon...which is why shiney glimmering plated US military firearms show up only at cadet and veteran color guard and drill team units.

Plus...anything that is plated sooner or later looses the plating.
 
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#3 ·
My Gen 4 slide and barrel are at Cummings Custom Refinishing as I type getting the CPII treatment. Factory finish was lacking as it had fine scratches out of the box. I like nice guns. I shoot them but no reason not to take care of them and have them look like new. Check out their web site. Very good reputation. I really don't care what others say or think about what I do or don't do to my firearms. Suit yourself on whether or not to refinish.

Regards,

Chuck
 
#4 ·
Several years ago, I had the slide and barrel of my favorite G19, hard chromed by Mahovsky's Metalife. Damn. I likee. Then, this year I had the slide on my G43 Cerakoted in Crushed Silver.

I've read that crows like shiny things. Me too. I must be a crow. There are enough of us that if you decide to resell your firearm, coating may even increase it's value.
 
#6 ·
If you just plate the matte slide surface, or bead-blast before plating, you will have less problems with reflections/glare, as those are primarily caused by the smooth polished surface, not the color of the surface. Even a blued pistol with a high-polished finish will glare/reflect light quite badly.

I had a couple of Glock slide/barrel assemblies done in Robar's NP3 finish about 5 years ago. I told them to just plate over the normal matte-surface, so they are not bright-polished or too reflective for my taste. I still own the G19C, and my son ended up with the G34, and they are holding up well. As long as you care for them properly (don't use wire scrub brushes for cleaning, etc.), I believe Robar will re-plate any part where the finish starts to peel or flake-off. The ported G19C gets a lot of blast in the barrel port and slide port areas, and I've seen no evidence of peeling/flaking at all. And I shoot the G19C a LOT; it's one of my favorite Glocks.

Gun Firearm Trigger Airsoft gun Gun accessory
 
#7 ·
If you just plate the matte slide surface, or bead-blast before plating, you will have less problems with reflections/glare, as those are primarily caused by the smooth polished surface, not the color of the surface. Even a blued pistol with a high-polished finish will glare/reflect light quite badly.

I had a couple of Glock slide/barrel assemblies done in Robar's NP3 finish about 5 years ago. I told them to just plate over the normal matte-surface, so they are not bright-polished or too reflective for my taste. I still own the G19C, and my son ended up with the G34, and they are holding up well. As long as you care for them properly (don't use wire scrub brushes for cleaning, etc.), I believe Robar will re-plate any part where the finish starts to peel or flake-off. The ported G19C gets a lot of blast in the barrel port and slide port areas, and I've seen no evidence of peeling/flaking at all. And I shoot the G19C a LOT; it's one of my favorite Glocks.

View attachment 304107
Those look good. But that plating "WILL" start peeling eventually. No bones about it. And like your already anticipating, it will start on the barrel where the smiley marks appear.

But those are good looking Glock's. That's the perfect tone IMO. Not shiny, but matte chromed. Good job on those !
 
#9 · (Edited)
What "niner" said. We had the slide on our police trade in G21 done w/NP3 last year and we are pleased with the results. Down sides are there is a 60-90 day wait and the work was a bit pricey (most good quality work is). We think that if you can do without the slide for a few weeks, the Robar finish is an excellent option.



We trudge on.
 
#10 ·
I've had my last three Glock's slide refinished by CCR. They do wonderful work at a good price. They always have deals also so keep looking. The first two were in House Black and the most recent in CPll. The House Black looks very close to the stock finish on the Gen3s but more durable. Always wanted a two tone gun so the most recent is the CPll but the finish is not shiny, more of a satin. These coatings make the slide WAY easier to clean. Highly recommend.
 
#14 ·
A shiney firearm degrades the overall utility of a firearm that's to be used as a weapon...which is why shiney glimmering plated US military firearms show up only at cadet and veteran color guard and drill team units.
You ought to see the way people's eyes bug out of their heads and focus when they see a shiny nickel plated handgun clearing leather! It makes an impression like no other I have seen.
 
#16 ·
DJ, those two are just right. I've never sent any of mine I for work because the "nice" ones are just safe queens and the work guns don't need to be perfect. But I'm thinking about sending in a new 17L for mill work so it'll have to get a new finish and that NP3 sure would look nice
 
#18 ·
While I happen to agree with BAC in that I like mine they way they come, we don't all like the same things. It's your gun and if you want to change the look, you should. I wouldn't worry about other opinions regarding your property.

If worried strictly about resale, then yes, I think there is a price to pay. However, if you plan to keep it, make it "personally" yours if you want.
 
#19 ·
G19 is spot on with suggesting Mahovsky's Metalife; he's done guns for me, and the finish is both attractive and very durable. Hard chrome and bumper chrome aren't the same creature.
A buddy has a G17 with a hardchromed slide; the shop claimed it was factory (anyone familiar with such) but it looks great and has proved durable.
Moon
 
#20 · (Edited)
Wouldn't chroming it cause corrosion? Just wondering.
Not sure how that might happen? Most of the finishes we are discussing are far more corrosion-resistant than stainless steel, and if applied to the slide/barrel of an unmodified Glock, I'm thinking the previous Tenifer/Nitration treatment would still be intact (as it penetrates a bit into the base metal) underneath the new coating, more-or-less doubling the corrosion protection.
 
#22 ·
My 33 here has been CPII'd by CCR when they first switched from CP to CPII years ago. It's one of my daily carries. Pocket. Iwb. Owb. Rained on. Sweated on. It still looks good.

I had the barrel of my 21 done in CPII and the 21 slide is in CPIIDusk(no longer offered)

My Glock 32 and 19 are in original CP and the 32 has been my carry gun for over ten years.





32 slide in CP next to HK in NP3
 
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